Question about package repositories

English Install/Boot/Login
1

Hello All!

I’m new to openSUSE. Not new to Linux. Just came off a 12 year stint on Gentoo/Funtoo. I had multiple reasons why I left but ultimately I wanted to reduce the amount of moving parts in my distro, reducing the things that might break. Spend more time getting work done than troubleshooting even before the program is even useable.

Anyways…

I’m not sure if this is the right section. I put it here because it’s a package install related question.

I’d like to ask some quick questions about the additional repositories that I’ve already added.

I had to install skype on my system, and I also installed steam.

I saw that the repositories that were added on had the repositories maintainer’s name on them (Nemon in this case), and I also saw some repositories that seemed to have come straight from openSUSE. I can’t remember the exact name of it, but it had something to the effect of “:/13.2/standard” I believe, and anotherone had “update”.

I wanted to ask, if I uninstall say both skype and steam, then took out the repositories I added (Nemon and the opensuse one’s as well), would that cleanly put me back to stock? Would there be any way to keep track of what I’ve pulled from which repositories?

Second of all, what is that “:13.2/standard”. To my untrained openSUSE eye, it sounds innocuous. Why did it have to be added?

Thirdly, how would this affect me during an upgrade/update? I would believe that if I did an update from 13.2 to 13.3, would I have to delete these programs and 3rd party repos in order to safely upgrade to 13.3, or could I just leave them, upgrade, then delete them and wait until the 13.3 version repos come out?

Finally, if there are any links that come to mind that might expand on this, I’d highly appreciate them. :smiley:

Thanks a bunch!

2

Ok point by point

had to install skype on my system, and I also installed steam.

I saw that the repositories that were added on had the repositories maintainer’s name on them (Nemon in this case), and I also saw some repositories that seemed to have come straight from openSUSE. I can’t remember the exact name of it, but it had something to the effect of “:/13.2/standard” I believe, and anotherone had “update”.

I wanted to ask, if I uninstall say both skype and steam, then took out the repositories I added (Nemon and the opensuse one’s as well), would that cleanly put me back to stock? Would there be any way to keep track of what I’ve pulled from which repositories?

Not all recommended package come on the disks. So you always have some added after a basic install. Which and how much is determined by which Installer you used. Also there have been patches and fixes since release so those generally come in at the first update

Repos can be just personal areas where others share various programs packaged for openSUSE. If you start Yast (note most things can be done here) -software Management and explore the menus you will see a history option shows you when and version. Also at bottom right you will find a version tab shows what version and from where is installed and what versions are available.

Removing packages and repose takes you back to whatever the start state was

It is recommended not to get carried away with many many active repos. Get the package and disable the repo if not from one of the normal community repos. (found in Yast -Repository management )

Thirdly, how would this affect me during an upgrade/update? I would believe that if I did an update from 13.2 to 13.3, would I have to delete these programs and 3rd party repos in order to safely upgrade to 13.3, or could I just leave them, upgrade, then delete them and wait until the 13.3 version repos come out?

To upgrade the normal online way is to disable all but basic openSUSE repos change all to point to the new version. then do a zypper dup then reenable the other repos now pointing to their new version and do a zypper up

Note that zypper dup is only for version changes unless you are running Tumbleweed and living on the cutting edge. You use zypper up to update. There are 3 major ways to update Yast, zypper, apper.

apper is the KDE updater and is used to notify you of updates